Tammy (TV series)

Tammy is an American sitcom, starring Debbie Watson in the title role. Produced by Universal City Studios, 26 color half-hour episodes were aired on ABC from September 17, 1965 to March 11, 1966.

For the 2014 movie, see Tammy (film). For the "Tammy" movies of the 1950s and 1960s, see Tammy (film series).

Tammy
Star of Tammy, Debbie Watson
Genre	Sitcom
Written by	Robert V. Barron Cid Ricketts Sumner
Directed by	Leslie Goodwins Sidney Miller
Starring	Debbie Watson Denver Pyle Donald Woods Dorothy Green
Theme music composer	Jay Livingston Ray Evans
Opening theme	"Tammy"
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	26
Production
Producer(s)	Dick Wesson
Production location(s)	Universal Studios, Universal City, California, United States
Running time	22–24 minutes
Production company(s)	Uni-Bet Productions Universal Television
Release
Original network	ABC
Audio format	Monaural
Original release	September 17, 1965 (1965-09-17) – March 11, 1966 (1966-03-11)
Chronology
Followed by	Tammy and the Millionaire

Tammy was loosely based on the three Tammy films; Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) starring Debbie Reynolds; Tammy Tell Me True (1961); and Tammy and the Doctor (1963) both starring Sandra Dee. The films themselves were adaptations of novels by Cid Ricketts Sumner. The series was also partially influenced by other rural-themed TV sitcoms such as The Beverly Hillbillies. In particular, there are similarities between Tammy's Cletus Tarleton and The Beverly Hillbillies' Jethro Bodine.

Synopsis

The premise of the program revolves around Tammy Tarleton, an 18-year-old country girl who moves back and forth between her country family, which lives on a bayou houseboat, and the wealthy Brents, who own a plantation and pancake business. Tammy is hired as a secretary by a powerful industrialist with a handsome young son. A high society dame who wants her own daughter to marry the son, repeatedly but unsuccessfully tries to smear Tammy’s reputation.

As with Gidget, there are many differences between the series and films that inspired it. In the movies, Tammy's full name is Tambrey Tyree, shortened to Tammy. The Tyree was changed to Tarleton. Also, Tammy Tyree had no family other than her grandfather, who was occasionally picked up by revenuers for fabricating "corn-likker".

Tammy lasted for one season (26 episodes), and was cancelled in 1966.

Main cast

• Tammy Tarleton — Debbie Watson
• Grandpa Mordechai Tarleton — Denver Pyle
• Uncle Lucius — Frank McGrath
• John Brent — Donald Woods
• Steven Brent — Jay Sheffield
• Dwayne Whitt — George Furth
• Cousin Cletus Tarleton — Dennis Robertson
• Lavinia Tate — Dorothy Green
• Gloria Tate — Linda Marshall
• Peter Tate — David Macklin
• Mrs. Brent — Doris Packer

Episodes

Tammy and Cousin Cletus.

Nº	Title	Directed by	Written by	Air date
1	"Tammy Leaves Home"	Sidney Miller	George Tibbles	September 17, 1965 (1965-09-17)
Tammy is in trouble when she's tricked into inviting her riverfolk relatives to a white-tie affair.
2	"The Aristocratic Tates"	Jerry Paris	George Tibbles	September 24, 1965 (1965-09-24)
Tammy is scorned by Lavinia Tate as not well-born for her son until the Tate kinfolk arrive.
3	"Tammy Plays Cupid"	Jerry Parris	George Carleton Brown & Frank Gill Jr.	October 1, 1965 (1965-10-01)
Tammy tries to bring romance into her grandfather's life.
4	"The Poker Game"	Gene Nelson	David Braverman & Bob Marcus	October 8, 1965 (1965-10-08)
Uncle Lucius insists on joining a high-stakes poker game with a man who has vowed to get even with him.
5	"The Tarleton Land Grant"	Sidney Miller	George Tibbles	October 15, 1965 (1965-10-15)
Lavinia Tate is planning on taking the Tarleton property for back taxes until Grandpa finds an ancient document.
6	"Prophet and Loss"	Sherman Marks	Robert V. Barron & Jack Marlowe	October 22, 1965 (1965-10-22)
Lavinia Tate's stock investments are affected by the prophecy of Tammy's Aunt Hannah.
7	"Will the Real Dwayne Whitt Please Stand Up?"	Sherman Marks	Story by: Ben Starr, Teleplay by: Gail Ingram & Ben Starr	October 29, 1965 (1965-10-29)
With an assist from Tammy, Dwayne gets a writing assignment, and weekends at the houseboat to absorb the authentic atmosphere.
8	"Still Waters"	Tom Montgomery	Paul David & John L. Greene	November 5, 1965 (1965-11-05)
Tammy's visiting Uncle Cully takes a job as a gardener to John Brent after he's warned to stay away from stills.
9	"Mind Your Manners"	Sherman Marks	Story by: Dorothy Cooper, Teleplay by: George Carleton Brown, Dorothy Cooper and Frank Gill Jr.	November 12, 1965 (1965-11-12)
When Lavinia Tate learns that Tammy has organized a surprise birthday party for John Brent, she decides to take over the event as hostess.
10	"Grandpa's Old Flame"	Ezra Stone	Gene Thompson	November 19, 1965 (1965-11-19)
Grandpa learns that his former fiancee is coming to see him based on her impression that he is rich.
11	"The Riverfyin' of Billy Joe Morgan"	Leslie Goodwins	Sam Locke & Joel Rapp	November 26, 1965 (1965-11-26)
Tammy and Steven Brent are left in charge of an obstreperous young house guest.
12	"Grandpa's Secret Love"	TBA	TBA	December 3, 1965 (1965-12-03)
Since Grandpa's new dog is a secret, John and Dwayne think his endearments are meant for a pretty girl entering the houseboat.
13	"Cletus Comes Callin'"	TBA	TBA	December 10, 1965 (1965-12-10)
The stranger Grandpa rescues from the river turns out to be Tammy's wheeler-dealer cousin.
14	"The Enoch Bowl"	Sherman Marks	Story by: Stuart Jerome, Teleplay by: William Raynor & Myles Wilder	December 17, 1965 (1965-12-17)
The Tarleton mule quits eating when an antique collector makes off with his bowl.
15	"A Severe Case of Matrimony"	TBA	TBA	December 24, 1965 (1965-12-24)
Lavinia uses her handsome cousin to make Tammy look like a giddy youngster.
16	"T' Know Me Is T' Love Me"	TBA	TBA	December 31, 1965 (1965-12-31)
Cletus discovers oil seeping from the ground and predicts the Tarleton's will be millionaires.
17	"The Law and Mr. Tarleton"	TBA	TBA	January 7, 1966 (1966-01-07)
Amos Potts tickets the Tarleton mule for illegal parking.
18	"Lavinia's Wedding Day"	TBA	TBA	January 14, 1966 (1966-01-14)
Tammy and Cletus arrange Lavinia's nuptials with the wrong bridegroom.
19	"Two for Tee Pee"	TBA	TBA	January 21, 1966 (1966-01-21)
An Indian chief arrives to make Cletus keep a promise and marry his daughter.
20	"Blue Nose, Wet Nose"	TBA	TBA	January 28, 1966 (1966-01-28)
Lavinia Tate goes all out to have her ill-behaved poodle defeat her rival's dog at obedience trials.
21	"The Monster from Catfish Bend"	TBA	TBA	February 4, 1966 (1966-02-04)
Cousin Cletus battles to land Big Luke, a 300-pound catfish.
22	"Larnin' Works Wonders"	TBA	TBA	February 11, 1966 (1966-02-11)
To keep his teaching credentials, Dwayne Whitt holds classes on Grandpa's houseboat.
23	"Tammy Goes to Paris"	TBA	TBA	February 18, 1966 (1966-02-18)
Lavinia invites herself and Gloria along on John Brent's trip to France.
24	"The Cinemazation of Tammy Tarleton"	Charles R. Rondeau	Sam Locke & Joel Rapp	February 25, 1966 (1966-02-25)
Tammy is chosen to act in a TV commercial, but Lavinia plots to get the assignment for her daughter Gloria.
25	"Uncle Lucius Returns"	TBA	TBA	March 4, 1966 (1966-03-04)
Grandpa Tarleton and his brother Lucius quarrel bitterly at their reunion.
26	"Uncle Lucius, the Business Man"	TBA	TBA	March 11, 1966 (1966-03-11)
The Tarletons enter Beulah, a cow that only gives milk when Uncle Lucius sings her favorite song, in a milking contest.

Tammy and the Millionaire

In 1967, Universal Pictures released a cinema movie called Tammy and the Millionaire which included all the main TV cast (except Cletus Tarleton) and was, in fact, a re-edit from four half-hour 1965 Tammy TV episodes.

International airings

Tammy was originally broadcast in several countries, including Japan, Germany, and Australia. The Tammy series was especially popular in Germany.

External links

• Tammy on IMDb
• Tammy German Fan Page